Tennessee · TN · Vehicles
Tennessee: Do you need a front license plate?
Rear plate only
Tennessee requires only a rear license plate on passenger cars.
State law says the plate issued for a passenger vehicle goes on the rear. Light pickups, panel trucks and motor homes also carry their plate on the rear, while heavier trucks and truck tractors carry it on the front. Tennessee issues a single plate for passenger cars.
What the law says
The registration plate issued for passenger motor vehicles shall be attached on the rear of the vehicle.
Sources
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-4-110(a) (FindLaw) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Tennessee Department of Revenue, Vehicle Services
- Phone
- (888) 871-3171
- Website
- tn.gov
How bordering states compare
- Alabama Rear plate onlyAlabama requires only a rear license plate on passenger cars.
- Arkansas Rear plate onlyArkansas issues one plate for passenger cars, and state law says a single plate goes on the rear.
- Georgia Rear plate onlyGeorgia requires only a rear license plate on passenger cars.
- Kentucky Rear plate onlyKentucky requires only a rear license plate on a passenger car.
- Mississippi Rear plate onlyMississippi issues one license tag, and it goes on the rear of the vehicle.
- Missouri Front and rear platesMissouri requires passenger cars to display license plates on both the front and the rear.
- North Carolina Rear plate onlyNorth Carolina issues one license plate for a passenger car, and it goes on the rear.
- Virginia Front and rear platesVirginia requires ordinary cars to display license plates on both the front and the rear.